Tool-handle.



No. 808,330. PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. G. E. WOOD.

TOOL HANDLE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAYG. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed May 6, 1905. Serial No. 259,123.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E.Woon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the town of Southington, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Tool-Handles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, while not strictly limited to tools of the class herein described, yet is especially applicable and of value in that class of tools requiring in use a blow upon the handle; and the object of my invention is to provide a handle for tools of this class that shall be shapely and convenient in use, sightly in appearance, and especially one that shall so resist the effects of blows as to greatly prolong the life of the handle, thus providing an extremely durable and inexpensive handle. One form of handle in the use of which these objects may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a tool provided with my improved handle. Fig. 2 is a view in lengthwise central section through the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the tool.

In that class of tools that require in use a blow upon the end of the handle unless provided with some means for resisting the effects of blows the handle soon becomes destroyed. Various means have been devised for overcoming this defect and for prolonging the time of usefulness of the handles of such tools. Such improvements, while remedying the defects to a certain extent, have not proved entirely successful, for the reason that the force of the blows still mutilates the end of that part of the handle composed of wood or the like, which part is soon destroyed, and the handle thus becomes useless until the part is replaced. By my invention I have provided means whereby the defects above noted have been removed. Such improvement may be embodied in a tool, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the numeral 1 denotes the blade of a tool, as a chisel. This blade is provided with a shank 2, that serves as a means for securing the handle proper to the tool. It is desirable that this handle as to its greater part shall be composed of wood or other vegetable or fibrous material. This part (denoted by the numeral 3) is formed to proper shape and has a central lengthwise opening to receive the shank 2.

A ferrule 4: is supplied in the usual manner to the inner or lower end of the part 3, and a cushion 5 is interposed between the opposite or outer end of said part or handle and the head 6 of the shank 2. This head 6 usually covers the entire end of the handle and is formed integral with the shank. This head may be formed by riveting or heading, and it provides a shoulder between which and the end of the handle the cushion 5 is located. In prior constructions employing such a head the end of the handle has rested in contact with the shoulder at the under side of the head. Such constructions have, however, inet'fectually prevented mutilation of the end of the handle, as the full force of such blows is received by the handle. -By interposing a cushion 5 between the end of the handle and the shoulder formed by the head 6 I have provided means whereby the handle is protected and prevented from receiving the force of blows delivered on the handle. My improved handle is to be distinguished from that class of handles in which the shank of a tool is located and must have a permissive movement for its operation and in which a spring is located between the handle and a shoulder on the shank, which, while allowing the permissive movement, holds the tool in a normal position within the handle. My invention does not contemplate a structure in which the shank has any perceptive movement within the handle, but is confined to that class of devices in which the shank and handle are firmly secured together, the cushion being located between the shoulder formed by the head and the end of the handle. This cushion is composed of any yielding elastic material, as rubber, leather, or the like, and while leather or rubber has been found to work well in use it is obvious that other materials, even extending to metal, may be. employed to serve the desired purpose, and I do not desire or intend to limit my invention to the means or material, herein shown and described, as any device having a cushion to receive the force of the blows, and thus protect an edge or end of the handle, will be understood as coming within the limits and scope of the invention.

I/V hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A chisel or like tool including a handle and a tool-shank extending therethrough to receive directly a driving blow, said shank provided with a shoulder, and as a means of cushioning the effect of the blow upon the handle without perceptive relative movement of the shank therein, a yielding cushion interposed between the end of the handle and said shoulder on the shank.

2. A chisel or like tool including a handle and a tool-shank extending therethrough to receive directly a driving blow, said shank having a shoulder formed integral therewith, and as a means of cushioning the effect of the blow upon the handle and protecting the end thereof without perceptive relative movement of the shank therein, a yielding washer interposed between the end of the handle and said shoulder.

3. A chisel or like tool to be held in the hand and driven bodily by a blow on one end and including a handle and a tool-shank extending therethrough, the latter to receive directly at driving blow and provided with a shoulder and the handle composed of comparatively soft material, and as a means of cushioning the efiect of the blow upon the handle and protecting the end thereof without perceptive relative movement of the shank therethrough, a cushion of elastic material interposed between the end of the handle and said shoulder on the shank.

4. A chisel or like tool intended to be held in the handand driven bodily by striking on one end, said tool including a handle and a tool-shank extending therethrough and having at its end a head providing a shoulder, said head receiving directly the driving blow, and as a means of cushioning the effect of the blow upon the handle and protecting the end thereof without perceptive relative movement of the shank tl'ierethrough, a yielding washer interposed between the end of the handle and said shoulder.

5. A chisel or like tool to be held in the hand and including a handle and a tool-shank with a shoulder thereon, and as a means of cushioning the effect of a blow upon the handle and protecting the end thereof Without perceptible relative movement of the shank therethrough, a yielding washer interposed between the end of the handle and said shoulder, the whole of the handle forming a continuous unbroken surface.

- GEORGE E. WOOD.

l/Vitnesses:

GEORGE B. MEsERVLE, HENRY N EWILL. 

